Ps Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £422,000 (2023)
• Total Assets: Approximately £23.3m (2022)
• Decision Time: Not applicable - trustee discretion only
• Grant Range: Varies - individual scholarships to institutional grants
• Geographic Focus: UK (primarily London) and India
• Application Process: No public application process - trustee discretion only

Contact Details

Address: Warren House, Warreners Lane, Weybridge KT13 0LQ

Charity Number: 1123570

Company Number: 06525171

Email: info@psfoundation.com

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

PS Foundation was registered as a charity on 10 April 2008 (previously known as V M Foundation) and was founded by businesswoman Vinodka “Vin” Murria OBE. With substantial assets of approximately £23.3m and annual grant expenditure of around £422,000 (2023), the foundation focuses on promoting social welfare, health, and education in disadvantaged areas and for disadvantaged people. The charity operates entirely through volunteer trustees with no staff or overheads, allowing maximum funds to go directly to beneficiaries. The foundation makes grants at the discretion of the Board after carefully considering the needs of individuals or organizations, with a particular focus on education as a key factor in tackling poverty. Grant-making activities include tertiary education scholarships for young adults in India and the UK, support for smaller UK charities on a one-off basis, and grants to both individuals and institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates multiple grant streams, though none have open application processes:

• Tertiary Education Scholarships: Support for young adults pursuing higher education in India and the UK, helping them secure qualifications that significantly increase their prospects
• Institutional Grants: One-off grants to smaller UK charities working in aligned areas
• Individual Hardship Grants: Support for individuals and families facing extreme hardship, particularly within the Asian community
• Named Scholarships: PS Foundation (V. Murria) Scholarships at Edinburgh Napier University for Indian students in Business School, School of Computing, or School of Engineering & the Built Environment (maximum 2 awards per year)

Priority Areas

• Education: Primary focus on tertiary education and scholarships; family support through education facilities
• Social Welfare: Support for disadvantaged communities, particularly extreme hardship cases
• Health: Healthcare support for disadvantaged areas
• Poverty Alleviation: Belief that education and family support are major factors in tackling poverty
• Geographic Focus: Operations in India and throughout London
• Community Focus: Particular emphasis on supporting the Asian community, though not exclusively

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation makes grants entirely at trustee discretion without published guidelines, explicit exclusions are not documented. However, based on their stated focus:

• Projects outside their core areas of education, social welfare, and health
• Organizations or causes not aligned with supporting disadvantaged communities
• Initiatives that do not demonstrate clear impact on poverty alleviation or educational access

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by 5 volunteer trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits. This ensures that all funds go directly to charitable activities.

Founder: Vinodka “Vin” Murria OBE is a prominent British businesswoman in the technology sector who established the foundation in 2007 (formally registered 2008) to support the education of women and children in poverty in India and the UK. Beyond PS Foundation, she serves as:

• Patron of Shivia (supporting 15,000 women to start micro businesses)
• Ambassador for The Prince's Trust
• Ambassador for Outward Bound

The foundation's approach reflects Murria's belief in education as a transformative tool for breaking cycles of poverty, particularly for women and disadvantaged communities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

PS Foundation makes grants entirely at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. According to their registered charitable activities, “the charity makes grants at the discretion of the Board and after carefully considering the needs of an individual or organisation.”

This means:

• There are no open application rounds
• No application forms or guidelines are published
• Grant decisions are made proactively by trustees based on their own identification of needs and priorities
• The foundation appears to work through existing relationships and direct knowledge of beneficiaries

For the Edinburgh Napier University scholarships specifically, applications would go through the university's scholarship office, not directly to PS Foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded at trustee discretion rather than through a formal application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable given the lack of public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the lack of public application process.

Application Success Factors

Important Note: Because this foundation does not accept applications, these factors are focused on understanding their funding patterns rather than application strategies.

Understanding Their Funding Approach

• May fund organizations or individuals they already know or have connections to
• Identify opportunities through their own networks and sector knowledge
• Make decisions based on direct knowledge rather than written proposals

1. Education as Core Strategy: The foundation consistently emphasizes that “education and family support are major factors in tackling poverty.” Projects demonstrating how education creates lasting change align with their philosophy.

• Organizations that may struggle to access larger funders
• Targeted, specific interventions rather than ongoing operational support
• Projects where a one-off grant can make meaningful difference

1. Focus on Asian Communities: While not exclusive, there is evidence of particular focus on supporting disadvantaged individuals and families in the Asian community, particularly for education and hardship relief.

1. Minimal Overhead Philosophy: Operating entirely with volunteer trustees and no staff costs demonstrates commitment to maximizing charitable impact. Organizations operating with similar efficiency may resonate with their values.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No Application Route Available: This foundation cannot be approached through standard grant application processes. Organizations seeking funding should not spend time preparing applications for PS Foundation.

1. Private Philanthropic Model: PS Foundation operates as a private charitable trust where trustees exercise discretion in identifying beneficiaries. This is fundamentally different from grant-makers with open application processes.

1. Education-Focused Mission: If your organization works in education access for disadvantaged communities (particularly tertiary education), understanding PS Foundation's work can provide insights into effective approaches, even if you cannot apply for funding.

1. Significant Assets: With approximately £23.3m in assets, the foundation has substantial capacity but chooses to operate through trustee discretion rather than open grant-making.

1. Founder's Broader Network: Vin Murria OBE's involvement with other charities (Shivia, The Prince's Trust, Outward Bound) suggests alignment with entrepreneurship, youth opportunity, and resilience-building approaches.

1. Asian Community Focus: Organizations working with disadvantaged Asian communities in education and hardship relief appear aligned with historical funding patterns, though the foundation is not restricted to this demographic.

1. Research Value Only: This overview is useful for sector research and understanding the philanthropic landscape, but PS Foundation should not be included in application pipelines or fundraising strategies for organizations seeking grants.

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: PS Foundation (1123570) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1123570&subid=0
• Companies House: PS Foundation (Company No. 06525171) - https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06525171
• Edinburgh Napier University: PS Foundation (V. Murria) Scholarships - https://napier.awardmanagement.co.uk/opportunities/76
• Indiaspora: Vin Murria Philanthropy Profile - https://indiaspora.org/philanthropy-leader/vin-murria/
• Charity Choice: PS Foundation Profile - https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/ps-foundation-46537